Fluid — Image Comments

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Basic Scoring

Score by "component

Technique:

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Composition:

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Message:

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Wow Factor:

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Advanced Scoring

You know what you're doing, score 2-10

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Help on Scoring

There are many different ways to score images. Before picking a number, the most important thing to keep in mind is to keep your personal likes/dislikes towards the subject matter or technique out of the process. It’s about the image – not about your preferences. In other words, even if you loathe snakes, is it a good photo of a snake?

Consider technique — focus and exposure, are they appropriate to the image. Does it have some weaknesses, is average, or is very well handled?
You would expect these to be within a range, given today’s technology, but are they appropriate to the subject?
Has depth of field been used effectively? Is it soft and low-contrast to suit the mood?
Consider these factors before scoring it lower for being “too contrasty” or “over-exposed”.
Technique is not about how "hard" a technique is — it's more about how effectively the tools are used.

Consider composition — this is also an important part of an image, and books can be written about it.
Primarily, does your eye go to the subject/story and do the other elements in the photo enhance/complement the subject/story or detract?

Consider message — this is all about your emotional reaction.
Does the expression on the face tug at your heartstrings? Keep in mind your personal biases.
Does the image tell you something about the subject or makes you think? Does it evoke memories of your own of similar situations?
Does it document an event well, or is more what we would call a simple "snapshot".
When scoring Theme images, also consider how the image relates to the Theme's statement.

Consider the "wow" factor — which is hard to quantify, but you know it when you see it.
Does the image stand out (not at all, a little, or a lot?) from other similar images you have seen of the same subject matter.
Yes, kittens are cute but fall into the "commonly seen" category — cuddly, but maybe not "wow!".
Is it a stunning capture of a subject in action? Is it a (good) unusual view of a common subject?
Is the lighting effective, startling or amazing?
Is this an image that stands out in a crowd?
When scoring Theme images, consider if the artist has found a unique (and good) interpretation of the Theme's statement.

Now you’re ready to assign a score. You can use "Composite" scoring and assign numbers within each category as discussed above.
Or once you get used to considering the above, just choose a general score within an assigned range using the "Single Value" tab.

If you are thinking of scoring an image low, it is usually only in the case of really serious technical flaws,
(which in competition you will rarely if ever see).
Keep the mid-range points for images that are technically ok, adequate in composition but fall into
the “calendar”, “postcard”, or "snapshot" type categories.
In other words, good, strong images but sort of “Kodak X” shots; lacking that extra dimension that really makes them stand out.
Then the tricky part, your top scores – if it’s a “wow” image but has a compositional issue or strong distraction, maybe an 8. If it awes you and you can’t find anything wrong, you can give that perfect score. Really. And if you’re just not quite sure it’s as good as it could be, then maybe a 9.
Relax – the more you judge and view the scores of others, the more confident you will get. Remember that even very experienced judges will often disagree!

If you change your mind, you can come back and rescore an image. Only your last score is used in calculating overall score statistics for an image. Each time you display the scoring form, it resets to the "5" score. It will not display previously saved scores.

After considering all of the above and creating a score, you should be able to now easily take those thoughts and record them as your comments about the image!

Othello Rapids

by Nancy M

Very strong sense of motion and power. You can almost hear the noise of the water. No slow shutter speed, soft water effects for you... The fast shutter speed says "loud" and "power" much better than any misty effect would. Knowing which techniques suit your subject is good. The exposure shows interesting detail in the water.

Suggestions:

Maybe crop out the rocks on the left and right hand sides, which tend to draw attention. That would concentrate attention on the main subject in a more simple and possibly more effective way.

Untitled

by Gabi Himschoot

Lovely setting and the fountain is a nice interpretation of the theme.

Suggestions:

Either a very tiny upload or really cropped image; hard to see any detail. But, the overall light is a bit flat. Suggest lifting the brightness a bit to bring up the midtones, and add some clarity or blacks to give the image some pop.

The thumbnail cropped off the horizon and I think it might be stronger that way. As it is, beautiful though the horizon is, it pulls yoru eye away. On the other hand, those waves go forever and that's a nice message too.

The imposing rocks are really the attention hogs in this image. They give it mood, strength, scale... The reflection gives it balance.

Suggestions:

Great shot; maybe a little too rocky for "fluid". In many cases, putting your main subject, in this case the lighthouse, despite the strength of the rocks, gives more dynamic to a composition. Perhaps try that in some future compositions and see which you like best.

Not much to suggest to improve this as a landscape, except maybe clone out the wires, to achieve a timeless look. While there is definitely water, it doesn't really seem "fluid" to me, being completely enclosed by rock.

Fluid design - Gehry style

by Peter E

This image has wonderful lines, light and colours, with little splashes of unexpected light. Nice abstract type image with a contrast between curved and straight lines.

Suggestions:

If this is part of a building I am thinking of, there may be more "fluid" examples... But for the image itself, good as it is, although perhaps making the bottom right look less like a building would have enhanced the "what is it" abstract feeling.

Tantalus Glacier

by Lou Misshula

This is a stunning closeup of the mountains - the lighting shows off the contrast of the smooth snowy areas and the jagged rocks. Just enough contrast in the sky.

Suggestions:

The only "fluid" seems to be some of the flow of lines; it doesn't come to mind... although it will qualify for "water in all its forms" in an upcoming competition. There seems to be some colour distortion in the bottom right... a little too much digital work to bring out some detail... or it was shot through some glass... or...?

Free Fall

by Lou Misshula

It has a strong sense of motion and place... you can almost feel the mist and the wet rocks and forest. You have to look twice too, as it almost seems upside down, with the misty stuff at the top instead of the bottom where we would expect it.

Suggestions:

Althouth the water is very strong, I find my eye going to the blank area in the bottom centre. Perhaps a composition to put the bottom of the waterfall a little closer to the centre... ??

Interesting detail on this fountain and effective use of depth of field to keep the background soft.

Suggestions:

Compositionally, my eye wants to move to where the metal joins the stone, even though the water is in a similar position. However, creating a vertical would eliminate some of the detail. Text book correct... my brain just goes elsewhere.

Multi State H2O

by Michael Garson

Nice interpretation of the theme; water in two different phases, and three different forms. It makes for a very interesting study of textures. I like the contrast between the vertical lines of the flowing water, the angles of the ice and the froth below.

Suggestions:

It looks a bit dark to me. I'd want to lift the exposure and maybe increase the clarity or contrast to enhance the textures.

This is a fascinating little study with interesting texture and subtle colour that says "frozen". Brrrr. Consider this for the Fraser Valley Invitational ("Water in all its forms")

Suggestions:

The depth of field is very shallow and although that forces the viewer into the junction of the lines and bumps, the left foreground is distracting. Consider cropping some of the left hand side off to make more of a panoramic format. If you have a firm support (eg tripod) in future, you might try more depth of field, although if this is a macro you might be at the limit now.

Fountain

by Michael Garson

Nice interpretation of the theme; Of course, the water, but the design of the fountain is also very fluid.

Suggestions:

Nothing in the image is quite sharp; Maybe a tripod was needed to get the exposure. And, the image is a bit dark. Perhaps the camera's sensor was fooled by all the white in the foreground. The image needs to be exposed another 1/2 to full stop. Or, use some editing software to bring up some of the dark areas.

The placement of the fountain in the frame is classic and the long exposure to blue the water creates lines that echo the tones of the posts.

Suggestions:

The flat lighting made the water effect possible, but doesn't do much for the metal. It isn't too clear what the photographer wanted us to see... I think perhaps the foreground plaza detracts from the main subject. Consider moving in and a little digital enhancement to add some "life"? Saturation?

He seems a bit trapped in this image; for the theme and for the general composition, either loosen the crop to include more water or back away to include more in the shot (assuming the pool isn't filled with other people just off the edge.)